Public Statements

Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka

Statement

As a mark of respect for Capt. Reid Kijiro Nishizuka, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has ordered that the National Flag and Hawaii State Flag be flown at half-staff at all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawaii National Guard on Saturday, May 11, 2013, the day of his memorial service.

"Like so many of our men and women in uniform, Reid chose to serve our nation with honor, and the people of Hawaii are proud of his selflessness and commitment in defense of freedom so far from home," Gov. Abercrombie said. "We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Nishizuka and Hatakeyama ohana as we mourn the loss of an island son."

Born in Honolulu, Nishizuka, 30, graduated from Kailua High School in 2000 and earned an aerospace engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2005. He entered military service in June 2005 and served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force with 2,434 flying hours, more than half of that in combat. Capt. Nishizuka was serving with the 427th Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Beale Air Force Base in Northern California, when, on April 27, his MC-12 aircraft crashed near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, and he was killed along with Capt. Brandon L. Cyr, 28, of Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin, 30, of Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.; and Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson, 24, also assigned to Beale Air Force Base.